Last



Feb.- 17, 1931.

w. J. VERNIER ET AL 3 3 LAST I Filed March 8, 1929 INVENTORS. William lfirnierm 29 y Laurence bf COO-Z87,

A RNEY.

Patented Feb. 17,1931

am oFF E WILLIAH J. VERNIEB AND LAURENCE H. COOLEY, F PORTSMOUTH, OHIO LAST Application filed March a, 1929. Serial no. 845,348.

. n This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for attaching wood heels to shoes and has for one of its objects to provide, in

a manner as hereinafter set forth, a method aforesaid whereby waste, such as is caused by broken heels and lasts, may be materially reduced.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus of the class aforesaid, which requires a minimum outlay for machinery and the like in carrying out the heel attaching operation.

Other objects and advantages of the inven tion will be apparent during the course of of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure l is a fragmentary'vertical section of a shoe, showing our improved last in association therewith.

Figure 2 is a top plan of the last.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan of the last.

Figure & is a top plan of our insole plate shown in position on an insole.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the last thimble.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the numeral 1 designates theheel portion of a last formed with an opening 2 extending ver-' tically therethrough. Extending partially through the opening 2 from the upper end thereof is a thimble 3 for connecting the last with a last jack, not shown. Spaced from the bottom thereof, the wall of the opening Another object of the invention is to pro-- 2 is formed with a shoulder 4 against which the lower end of the thimble is seated and adjacent the upper end of the opening, the wall thereof is formed with a similar shoulder 5 against which a flange 6 formed on the 56 upper end of the thimble 3 is seated. The upper face of the flange 6 is flush with the upper face of the heel portion 1 of the last. The thimble 3 is of cylindrical formation open at its top and bottom and the inner 00 wall thereof is in alignment with that portion of the wall of the opening 2 which is disposed below the lower end of the thimble. The heel portion 1 of the last is tapered upwardly and has secured to its upper face a resilient pad 7 which is formed with an opening 8 extending therethi'ough. With the pad 7 in position on the heel portion 1, the wall of the opening 8 is in alignment with the inner wall of the thimble and the" thimble is securely held in position within the opening 2 by that portion of the pad immediately surrounding the opening 8 being seated upon the upper face of the flange 6. The pad 7 is maintained in position on the heel portion 1 of the last by means of suitable holdfast devices 9.

Secured to the lower face of the heel portion 1 of the last, by means of suitable holdi I fast devices 10, is a rigid reinforcin 7 plate 11 Wl'llChlS formed with a preferab y rectangular opening 12, the central portion of which is in alignment with the opening 2. Forwardly of the opening 12 is an opening 13' through the plate 11, into which a portion of the heel portion 1 of the last of corresponding size and shape extends. Such portion is indicated at 14 and the lower face thereof is flush with the lower face of the plate 11.

The last is positioned within the shoe with the plate 11 seated on an insole plate 15 which is secured adjacent its forward end to the insole 16 by means of suitable rivets 17.. The forward inside corner-18 of the plate 15 is extended forwardly of the insole for a greater distance than the forward outside corner 19 for a purpose to be hereinafter refered to. Extending through the plate 15 is an elongated opening 20 which is adapted to be 100 brought into alignment with the opening 13 the last of corresponding size and shape exthrough the plate 11 when the plates 11 and tending therethrough. 15 are in assembled relation. The insole may In testimony whereof, we afiix our signabe fastened to the last by means of a suitable tures hereto. tack 21 driven through the insole and through WILLIAM J. VERNIEB. the openings 20 and 13 into the last. Rear- LAURENCE H. COOLEY. wardly of the opening 20 the plate 15 is formed with a countersunk circular opening 22 which is in registry with the openings 12 and 2 of the plate 11 and heel portion 1 of the last. The lnsole 16 is seated on the upper face of the outsole 23 of the shoe.

To attach a. heel such as 24 to the shoe, the heel is placed in position against the lower face of the outsole 23 and a relatively small drilling bit, not shown, is inserted throughthe opening 8, thimble 3, lower portion of the opening 2 and through the openings 12 and 22 and a hole is bored through the insole 16, outsole 23, and into the heel 24. The :5 drilling bit isithen removed and a screw such as 25 is inserted through the thimble and opening 2.

Before positioning the heel against .the

heel seat portion of the outsole, an adhesive substance is interposed between the heel and heel seat. The adhesive substance may be applied either to the heel or the heel seat, or both. The screw 25 is of greater diameter than the hole which has been bored through the soles 16 and 23 and into the heel 24 and when the screw 25 is tightened the heel will be securely held in position whereby further operations in the manufacture of the shoe may be performed during the period required I I for the setting of the adhesive substance.

Due to the rigid plate 15 secured to the insole, the insole, outsole, and upper of the shoe are drawn firmly against the entire upper face of the heel 24 by the action of the I screw 25. Due to the forwardly projecting.

inside forward corner 18 of the late 15,

the insole and outsole at the insi e breast are pulled into position and firmly secured.

While the insole late 15 is herein illustrated and described as being seated on the insole 16, which is the preferred manner of positioning the same, it is to be understood that the plate might be otherwise positioned without departing from the spirit of the invention, such as, for instance, inserting the plate within a split portion of an insole.

What we claim is:

In an apparatus for attaching wood heels to shoes, a last formed with an opening extending vertically therethrough, a thimble seated in the upper portion ofsaid opening and formed with an open top and bottom, and

a reinforcing plate secured tQftlie lower face of the last and formed with an opening in registry with the opening in said last to provide an unobstructed opening through said last and plate, said plate further being formed with an opening having a portion of no 

